Japan: Record Number of Deaths from Bear Attacks

Japan is experiencing a record number of deaths caused by bear attacks. Seven people have died so far this year, according to an official from the Japanese Ministry of the Environment.

This is the highest death toll since 2006, when statistics on bear attacks began to be kept, surpassing the five deaths recorded in 2023-24. The incident that added to this grim statistic was the death of a man whose body was found last week in northern Japan and attributed to a bear attack.

The increase in bear sightings, even in populated areas, is attributed to climate change and population decline in Japan. In response, Japan relaxed firearms regulations for hunters in urban areas in September.